Towel rack or like fixture



Jan. 22, 1924. 1,481,730

E. G. OAKLEY TOWEL RACK OR LIKE FIXTURE Filed Oot. 19. 1921 I Q Ilib-inn;

atented Jan, 22, 1924. I

STATES PATENT OFFICE.

rowan men on nrxn rrxruan Application flied ottom- 1a, 1921. Serial No.508,641.

To all whom it may comm:

Be it known that I, Ems'rus G. OAKLEY,

a citizen of the United r States, residing in Bridggpo t county ofFairfield, and State of onnecticut, ave invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Towel Racks or like Fixtures, of which the follow- 4infiis a full, clear, and exact description.

y invention relates to towel racks or like fixtures, and .moreparticularly to the provision of a firm and durable connection between atubular member and wall or base plate used therewith in the constructionof wall fixtures of various kinds.

In the manufacture of many fixtures, ,it is common practice to securethe fixture by the provisionof a wall or base plate generally disklikein form, to which is fastened a tubular or rodlike structure serving asa towel support or the like. Itis desirable that the connection betweenthis flanged base or wall plate and the stem or tubular structure, beone which ma be formed economically and yet be rigi and strong, and neatin ap earance.

One object o my invention is to simplify and cheapen the production ofarticles of character descri ed, while maintaining a high standard ofquality.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved method ofsecuring, a

flange plate upon a rod or tubelike struc- Fig. 3 is a etailed sectionalview of my.

improved connecting means taken along line 3-3 of Fi 1.

The preferre embodiment of my inven- .tion which I have selected toillustrate. and describe comprises a towel rack or similar fixtureconsisting of a body 10 in the form of a tube or rod upon the'ends ofwhich are provided transversely extending flanges 11 and 12 in the formof base or wall plates manufactured separately from the tube or body 10and thereafter secured thereon.

These wall or base plates are adapted to be secured to a suitablesupport by means. of screws 13, or similar fastening members passingthrough perforations in the plates.

In order to provide a rigid and durable connection between each of theplates 11 and 12 and the body of the fixture 10, I form an annular,exterior shoulder 14 upon the body 10, adjacent each end thereof. In thecase of a tubular body, such as is shown in the drawings, this shoulderis forfmed by distorting or flaring the wall of the tube outa; 0FBRIDGEPdRTfCONNEO'IICUT, ASSIGNOB T0 BRIDGE-PORT r-r. S COMIANY, 0FBRIDGEPORT, O01\l'INEC'JIICU'I. J

wardly and downwardly and then doubling itback upwardly and inwardly toform a substantially solid shoulder by the maniioldin of the wall of thetube. The end of the tu e wall then continues in alignment with the bodythereof without any change in its diameter. This .shoulder may obviouslybe formed, if desired, by the mere outward distortion of the wall of thetube without the wall being doubled back upon itself to form asubstantially solid shoulder.

The wall or base plates 11 and 12 consist of members generally disklikein form projecting as flanges transversely from the ody 10 of thefixture. The particular form or shape, however, of these members is notof importance as far as this invention is concerned. Each of the platesis provided with a centrally formed perforation 15, the edge of which isturned axially of the tubular body 10 so as to provide an annular flange16, which is adapted to lie flatly against the tubular body when thelatter is received in the perforation 15 of the plate.

The outer surface of the plate may be lodged against the shoulder itwhen the late is slip d upon the end of the tube. I "he edge of ti:tubularbody is then turned'over and folded, back, as at 17, upon theannular fiange 16 by a crimping or spinning operation in such a-mannerthat the plate is lodged-firml against the shoulder 14 and gripped tigturned over edge of the tube. The portions 16 and 17 of the plate andtube, respectively,

form, interlocking 'ip ing knuckles, which "constitute practic andurable connection tly between same and the between the two parts incooperation with the shoulder 14 against which the plateis clamped.- Inthis operation the flange 16 may be slightly turned or deformedoutwardly, so that a moreefiective gripping knuckle will beformed by itand the member 17.

It will be noted that, although the com- -bination as above described ispreferred,

certain features may be omitted without impalring the usefulness andnovelty residing in the remaining ones. or instance, it ma -bedesirableto omit the flange '16 about the shoulder 14 and downwardly bythe upturned end 17 being clamped therebetween.

This in effect produces a structure having a plate member clampedbetween two shoulders formed upon a tubular member.

It will be obvious that the two parts of the fixture may be connected inthis manner b machine work, ,which will be a relatively 0 cap operationand at the same time will hold the parts rigidly together without theuse of rivets or solder, or similar fastening.

means. 1

i It will, of course, be apparent that my invention will be capable ofapplications other than that shown in the embodiment herein described,and may be varied in details without departing from the spirit of theinvention or,the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is: ,f 1. In combination, a tubular member, an exteriorshoulder provided thereonby reversely folding the wall thereof, and aplate member having an opening'receiving said tubular member, and havingan annular flange about the opening abutting thewall of the tubularmember, the edge of the latter being spun over said flange to secure themembers together withthe surface of the plate member clamped tightlyagainst the shoulder. I

2. In combination, a tubular member having a shoulder formed externallythereon,

and a second-member securedthereto having a perforation receiving theend'of said tubulanmember, but too small t5 receive said shoulderportion, the edge of the perforation in said second member being bentdown.-

thereof and a base having a flanged opening therethrough, the end ofsaid tubular member protruding through the flanged opening of said baseand returned over the edge of the flange whereby the tubular member andthe base are securely connected together with the base clamped betweenthe shoulder and the end of the tubular member.

4. In a towel rack or like fixture, a tubular member having its wallbent outward to form a shoulder thereon adjacent an end thereof, and asheet metal base having an opening thcrethrough and an inwardly formedflange about the opening, the end of said tubular member protrudingthrough the opening of said base and being returned over the edge of theflange whereby said member and base are secured together, and the frontface of said base around said opening being thereby held in abutmentwith said shoulder. i

5. In combination, a tubular member having a shoulder formed externallythereon,

' and a plate member, having a perforation therein, mounted upon saidtube member with one surface thereof lodged against the shoulder andinterlocking, gripping, annularfianges formed upon said plate member andtube tosecure said parts in position.

6. In combination, a tubular member having its wall bent outward to forman exterior shoulder thereon adjacent its end, and a plate memberprovided with an opening whereby it embraces the end of said tubularmember with: the face-of said plate member contacting with saidshoulder, the ed e of said opening comprising an annular ange bent awayfrom said shoulder about and along said tubular member, the edgeof theend of said tubular'member beingspun over and along said annular flangeof the opening in said plate member for retaining said plate member uponsaid tubular member.

7. In combination, a tubular member having an exterior shoulder formedthereon, and a plate member having a hole therein fitting over an end ofsaid tubular member against said shoulder, the edge of said openingbeing turned inwardly t9 form an annular flange,

the end of said tubular niember being spun I over and .upwardly aboutthe inwardly turned flange of said plate member and pressing, againstthe edge of the same to clamp said plate member against said exteriorshoulder. V I

8. In a towel rack or like fixture, an article supporting bar having anexterior shoulwardly and interlocked with the ed e of the tubular memberby "having the en of 'said as tubular member spun over the downwardlyder formed thereon-adjacent an endth'ereof g and a base member providedwith an'opening to receive the end of said memberand 1 0 aeemao havingan inwardly" diree flange about said opening, the end of said barprotruding through said opening and spun over the edge of said flangewhereby'said base is secured upon the end of said bar between saidshoulder and said spun ever end 9. In an article support, an articlesupporting rod and a base member for said supporting rod, said basemember provided with an opening and having an inwardly directed flangeabout said opening, one end of said rod for a predetermined distancealong its length being efproper cross section to be inserted into said 0enin in saidbase, while. an adjacent portion 0 said rod is of too greata cross. section for such insertion, said rod end protruding throughsaid base in the opening thereof and having its ends spun over the mg:of said flange whereby said base and re are secured together.

In witness whereof, I hereunto set my hand on the 17 day of October,1921.

